Echeveria plant named ‘Pink Diamond’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct plant of  Echeveria hybrida  named ‘Pink Diamond’ is disclosed, characterized by robust growth on plants forming a compact rosette of geometric pink leaves with hyaline margins. Plants produce foliage with more pink coloration in cool temperatures, and also maintain a pink foliar color in warmer temperatures as well.  Echeveria  is a popular genus, typically produced as container plants for the patio or as landscape plants.

Latin name of the genus and species: Echeveria hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘PINK DIAMOND’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’, is the product of chancediscovery by the inventor. The new variety was discovered as a wholeplant, naturally occurring mutation of the parent variety, theunpatented Echeveria hybrida cultivar known as ‘Lola’. The discovery wasmade during November of 2015, in Vista, Calif., at a commercialgreenhouse.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Pink Diamond’ was firstperformed in Vista, Calif., at a commercial greenhouse, by vegetativeoffsets in March of 2016. Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’ has since produced atleast 10 generations and has shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Pink Diamond’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PINK DIAMOND’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘PINK DIAMOND’ as a new and distinctEcheveria cultivar:

-   1. Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’ forms compact rosettes of geometric pink    leaves with hyaline margins, a combination not encountered often in    the market of “pink” succulents.-   2. Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’ will become more pink with cool    temperatures, but always retains a pink coloration, whereas many    other “pink” succulents found in today's market only blush pink in    cool temperatures and are usually silvery blue or white at other    times.-   3. Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’, an attractive, compact pink rosette, is    ideal for use as an accent in groups of blue or green Echeverias, or    as an eye-catching accent in a decorative grouping of succulents,    particularly those of orange or yellow tones.-   4. Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’ is a robust grower, not displaying the    problematic tendencies encountered with many of the other “pink”    Echeverias with genetic lines of Echeveria lauii and Echeveria    agavoides ‘Romeo’ (unpatented).

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Pink Diamond’ are similar to plants of theparent in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the newcultivar ‘Pink Diamond’ differ in the following:

-   1. Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’ forms pink rosettes, with a slight    upswept tendency to the leaves, whereas Echeveria ‘Lola’ forms    alabaster rosettes, blushed in violet during cooler temperatures.-   2. Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’ is relatively pathogen free, as is    Echeveria ‘Lola’.-   3. Although Echeveria ‘Lola’ has the same hyaline margins as    Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond, Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’ exhibits a greater    contrast between the rosette color and the hyaline margin than does    Echeveria ‘Lola’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

The new cultivar ‘Pink Diamond’ can be compared to the commercialvariety Echeveria ‘Cubic Frost’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,527. Plants ofthe new cultivar ‘Pink Diamond’ differ in the following:

-   1. Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’ forms compact pink rosettes of geometric    leaves, whereas Echeveria ‘Cubic Frost’ has upswept, longer pink    tubular leaves arranged in a rosette.-   2. Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’ exhibits hyaline margins whereas    Echeveria ‘Cubic Frost’ does not have hyaline margins.-   3. Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’ produces leaves that are pink in color,    whereas Echeveria ‘Cubic Frost’ produces leaves that are of a more    frosted pink due to the glaucous covering.

The new cultivar ‘Pink Diamond’ can be compared to the unpatentedEcheveria shaviana ‘Pink Frills’. Plants of the new cultivar ‘PinkDiamond’ are similar to Echeveria ‘Pink Frills’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘Pink Diamond’differ in the following:

-   1. Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’ forms upswept rosettes of pink leaves,    whereas Echeveria shaviana ‘Pink Frills’ forms rosettes of lateral    leaves of powdery lilac with pink margins.-   2. Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’ exhibits concentric, roughly spatulate    leaves whereas, Echeveria shaviana ‘Pink Frills’ displays longer    leaves with finely crenulate margins towards the apex of the leaf.-   3. Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’ exhibits pink leaves with highly    contrasting hyaline margins, whereas Echeveria shaviana ‘Pink    Frills’ does not display a hyaline leaf margin.-   4. Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’ is a more robust grower than is    Echeveria shaviana ‘Pink Frills’, particularly as Echeveria ‘Pink    Diamond’ does not display the seasonal dormancy that seems to cause    Echeveria shaviana ‘Pink Frills’ to be prone to lethal fungal    diseases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and equipment.While the colors in these photographs may display variances of color ascompared to the living cultivar, due to LRV (light reflectance value),they are as accurate as possible using conventional photographictechniques. Colors in the photographs may appear to differ slightly fromthe color values cited in the botanical description, which accuratelydescribe the colors of new Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’. Plants photographedare approximately 4 months from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 1 illustrates in full color the plant being described of Echeveria‘Pink Diamond’, grown in a greenhouse (approximately 2000-2500 footcandles) in Vista, Calif.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a plant of Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’, onthe left in the figure, and a plant of the comparator ‘Lola’, on theright in the figure. Both plants were grown in a greenhouse(approximately 2500 foot candles) in Vista, Calif. under identicalconditions.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Pink Diamond’ plants in a commercialgreenhouse in Vista, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 2° C. to 38° C.night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemicaltreatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions wereapproximately 2500 fc of light. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Echeveria hybrida ‘PINK DIAMOND’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Terminal vegetative cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots: About 11 days at approximately 24° C.-   Root description: Fibrous.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 4 months from a cutting.-   Container size of the plant described: 12 cm.-   Growth habit: Moderately dense, symmetrical rosette.-   Height: Approximately 9 to 12 cm to top of highest leaf.-   Plant spread: Approximately 12 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate to rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Rosette forming, no branching.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosulate.        -   Quantity.—55 to 70 per plant.        -   Average length.—Average range 3.8 to 4.5 cm.        -   Average width.—2.5 cm.        -   Thickness.—9 to 10 mm.        -   Shape of blade.—Blunt spatulate.        -   Apex.—Broad, near flat, then apiculate. Slightly sharp.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Aspect.—Moderately concave.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte, slightly glaucous. Hyaline            margin.        -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Matte, slightly glaucous.            Hyaline margin.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 190C,            heavily flushed or completely flushed Greyed-Purple 186C.            Margin hyaline, Yellow-White 158C flushed Greyed-Purple            186D. Apical point colored near Red-Purple 58A. Young            foliage, under side: Near RHS Greyed-Purple 186D, flushed            186C. Margin hyaline, Yellow-White 158C flushed            Greyed-Purple 186D. Apical point colored near Red-Purple            58A. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 190C            completely covered in Greyed-Purple N187D. Margin hyaline,            Yellow-White 158C flushed Greyed-Purple 186D. Apical point            colored near Red-Purple 58A. Mature foliage, under side:            Near Greyed-Purple N187C flushed 186C and 186B. Margin            hyaline, Yellow-White 158C flushed Greyed-Purple 186D.            Apical point colored near Red-Purple 58A.        -   Venation.—There is no visual appearance of venation.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Approximately Spring until Fall in    Southern California.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Raceme.-   Flower longevity on plant: 10 to 20 days depending upon ambient    temperatures.-   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: 3 to 5 open flowers and 3    buds.-   Total inflorescence size:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 10 to 15 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 6 to 7 cm.-   Corolla:    -   -   Arrangement.—Pentagonal, tightly held, fused at base.        -   Size.—Diameter: Average 1.4 cm. Length: 1.8 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—5.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.7 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 7 mm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused at bottom 10% to 20% of length.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, all surfaces.        -   Color.—When opening: Outer surface: Near RHS Orange-Red            N34B, apex Greyed-Red 182B, base Yellow 8D. Inner surface:            Near RHS Green-Yellow 1C. Thin margin near Orange-Red N34A.            Fully opened: Outer surface: Near RHS Red 50C, strongly            flushed 50B with bright center streak 50A. Margins Yellow            11C. Inner surface: Near RHS Yellow 11A, base 11C, upper            half lightly flushed Red 50A.        -   Color changes when aging.—Outer surface: Near RHS Greyed-Red            182B. Inner surface: Near RHS Greyed-Red 181C.-   Bud: (near opening):    -   -   Shape.—Broad conical.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 8 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Orange-Red N34B, apex Greyed-Red 182B, base            Yellow 8D.-   Sepals:    -   -   Length.—7 mm.        -   Width.—5 mm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Shape.—Deltate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, upper and lower surfaces.        -   Appearance.—Shiny, upper and lower surfaces.        -   Color.—Outer: Near Greyed-Green 189A. Inner: Near            Greyed-Green 189A. Thin margin near Red 50A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Average range 5 to 10 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 6 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Green 196D lightly flushed Greyed-Red            181D.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—Average 1.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 3 mm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Red 182B.-   Fragrance: None detected.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens: (Androceium).    -   -   Number.—Most commonly 10.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 5 mm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Green-Yellow 1D.        -   Anther length.—1 mm.        -   Anther color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green N144B.        -   Anther shape.—Linear.        -   Pollen.—Not observed.-   Pistil: (Gynoecium).    -   -   Number.—Average 5.        -   Length.—Approximately 7 mm.        -   Style color.—Near Yellow-Green 145C, flushed Yellow-Green            144C.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Purple 183A.            Ovary Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Fruits and seeds: Not observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately    −2° C. to at least 35° C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance observed to fungal diseases    common with overwatering of Echeveria plants. Neither resistance or    susceptibility to other normal diseases and pests of Echeveria has    been observed. The pathogen of the fungal diseases cause leafspot in    Echeveria is unconfirmed. Potential pathogens include Alternaria    spp., Bipolaris cactivori, Botrytis spp., Cladosporium tenuissimum,    Colletotrichum spp. and Cercospora spp.-   Drought tolerance: Tolerates at least 3 weeks of high temperatures    without supplemental water, showing no serious damage to plant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echeveria plantnamed ‘PINK DIAMOND’ as herein illustrated and described.